New technology of diagnosis and prevention of breast cancer(Dynamic angiothermography)
Breast cancer is one of the major causes of death among women in the world. Although there are a few areas of lower incidence, this disease displays an almost universal range, with a post-diagnosis mortality rate of 20-25% within the first five years and 35% with-in ten. Even for women who do survive its effects are lasting, for it alters their psychology as well as their emotional and social lives forever.
Indeed, despite the serious nature of breast cancer, there is still no way of effectively combating it in terms of diminishing its incidence. In other words, while the notable expenditure of scientific and community organizations may have resulted in lowering the mortality rate, although even this claim is much debated by experts, it has not lowered the number of women affected by the disease.
But this is not possible for the breast even today, with so- called prevention being reduced to early diagnosis. While early diagnosis is surely very useful in saving lives, though not in all cases, it is not enough to prevent the disease.
Until now one of the basic tenets in senology was that cancer proceeds from cellular alterations that are initially slight but progressively advance to out-right neoplasia. The truth is rather that lesions which are histologically important may never turn into cancer while less histologically important ones may do so. In actual fact, it is the presence or absence of certain genes that determines this progression. It thus follows that it is necessary to localize a pre-invasive lesion and study its carcinogenetic potential via a detailed understanding of its genetic profile. Indeed , otherwise it will be impossible to make proper decisions about treatment and prophylaxis that would lead to real prevention. The bottom line is that new diagnostic and treatment strategies are needed.
One of these appears to be the observation in vivo of changes in the breast as blood-flow. We know that variations in blood flow are determined by all the physiological and pathological phenomena that continually occur in a living organism or in any part of it. It is only logical that a signal event like the onset of a cancer must involve blood flow in the affected area, which in the case of cancer means commandeering more blood from the nearest vessels. The tumor needs to be nourished. Indeed, it begins to redirect blood flow towards itself even before it arises. It is the cells that will turn into the tumor that cause these circulatory alterations.
Dr. Daniele Montruccoli
Head of breast disease department for the Geneva foundation for medical edu-cation and research, a world health organization collaborating center.
Professor in oncology at the university “la Sapienza” in Rome 2nd school of thoracic surgery.
After twenty five years in collaboration with professor Gian Carlo Motruccoli, committee member of F.I.G.O. (international society of senology), we have developed a new technique for the diagnosis of breast cancer named dynamic Angiothermography (DATG).
The new device is able to give more precise information by not only identifying the quantity of heat emitted by the breast, but actually photographs the microcirculation present in the mammary gland with a resolution of very few microns.
This “morphological photograph”, in the absence of any pathology, remains constant during the life of a woman. Scientific studies on neoangiogeneses gives evidence of the presence of new blood vessels from the very early stages of breast cancer. Therefore during the clinical follow up with the patient, subsequent changes in the optical profile versus that obtained in the initial visit would indicate a transformation towards a cancerous state.
It is suggested that DATG be used alongside current diagnostic techniques such as mammography, ecography and magnetic resonance, in particular with young women and for the lobular histology.
In summary, the characteristics of DATG are:
• Every woman has her own angiothermographic pattern equivalent to a unique “fingerprint”
• In the absence of any disease this picture remains constant throughout the life of the woman.
• Any changes in the picture are a potential signal of the start of a disease. The likelihood of a disease or its malignancy is independent of the size or from od the lesion
• Other advantages of the technique are the rapidity of its application, cost-effectiveness and non-invasive nature.
Description of the
Dynamic Angiothermography (DATG) Technology
The core of dynamic angiothermography (DATG) is a plate featuring a very thin fine taut layer of a special plastic (18 × 24cm diameter) incorporating liquid crystals based on molecolar nanotechnology. The molecular structure of the crystals enables them to refract ambient light in the red-to-violet spectrum depending on the heat detected by the plastic film when placed on the breast. The image this generates on the plate shows up as lines, a few millimeters in diameter , that represent key characteristics of the underlying blood flow. The proper interpretation of these signs results in the diagnosis. Dynamic angiothermography, which is altogether different from any other thermographic technique, i.e. it does not measure heat but provides qualitative rather than quantitative data, has so far been tested on about seven thousand patients. Backed up by more than one thou-sand biopsies, these tests show that DATG can not only diagnose cancer but also localize pre-invasive lesions in the breast, thereby making it possible to prevent their developing into cancer.
Practical considerations
• rapid
• economical (limited equipment and maintenance costs)
• completely non invasive
• can be used at any age
• very good compliance
• breast cancer prevention (even detection of lobular neoplasia)
• no radiation, no chemical, no pain
• repetitive and reproducible
• rapid performance time, immediate response
